HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE: McCarthy does it all for HoVal

She’s been a defender, she’s been a midfielder and this season Alison McCarthy is on the attack.

It’s not that they can’t find a steady place for the senior in the Hopewell Valley lineup, it’s simply that McCarthy seems to excel whatever the position.

As one of the Bulldogs captains, she excels off the field too.

“It’s like having another coach out there,’’ said Hopewell Valley coach Pam Edwards, of McCarthy. “She is always helping out the younger players. She communicates so well on the field and she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team.’’

The Bulldogs are 8-2 and the play – and leadership – of McCarthy is certainly one of the reasons. She has netted 19 goals and contributed 10 assists as well as running the field to provide help wherever it’s needed.

But, what matters most to McCarthy is how well the Bulldogs have grown together this season after several key losses to graduation.

“I’m so proud of this team,’’ said McCarthy, who is headed to The College of New Jersey to play field hockey. “We have really grown together and we work well together. When we first came out this season we weren’t sure how it was going to go because we lost a lot of seniors that we relied upon. But, everyone is stepping up to their fullest potential.’’

One of McCarthy’s goals for her final season is a Mercer County Tournament title to end the four-year drought for Hopewell.

But, her main goal was just to make sure this would be a team that played for each other.

“I want us to be a very unselfish team and to build upon everybody’s talents,’’ said McCarthy. “All of us captains want to be good leaders and good role models for the younger players.’’

Besides a determined work ethic one of the other traits the younger players can learn from McCarthy is the poise she brings to the attack.

“You have to be smart about when to go to the goal,’’ said McCarthy. “It’s always a challenge being on the attack.’’

No matter the challenge, or where on the field, McCarthy has accepted the task and risen to the occasion.

Fisher Returns After spending the last four years as the girl’s lacrosse coach at West Windsor-Plainsboro South Bryan Fisher moved to Notre Dame this season and today the two will meet on the Pirates turf.

The draw is set for 4:15 p.m.“I’m excited to watch two good teams,’’ said Fisher. “Both play with a lot of pride, sportsmanship and energy.’’

It was just one year ago that South’s Skylar DeLemos provided the excitement and energy with a game-winning goal in the final seconds to defeat the Irish.

“This is a game that means a lot to us and it’s going to be a game with a lot of emotion,’’ said DeLemos. “Playing against our old coach we have something to prove. We have to continue to play with the same heart we have been playing with and hopefully it won’t come down to a game winning goal.’’

While there will be some emotion on both sides the strongest emotion will be the excitement of playing in an important game.

A game that both the Irish and South need as the MCT seeding are looming and a game that will bring back the old and provide a fitting welcome to a new era for both teams.

L’Insalata Reaches Milestone in Cage

Alexa L’Insalata has been handling things in the goal for West Windsor-Plainsboro North for the last two seasons and earlier this week the senior recorded her 300th save.

“It’s definitely a big milestone,’’ said L’Insalata, who will take her talents to Oberlin College in the fall. “It’s crazy to think that I’ve faced that many shots. A lot of the credit has to our defense, too.’’

One of the reasons the North defense has been solid comes from the confidence every player has in L’Insalata. It’s a confidence that allows them to be more aggressive and take more chances.

It has been the growth and the poise of L’Insalata that allowed the Knights to claim the first Mercer County Tournament crown in North’s history and a spot in the state sectional final.

“She has been a rock for us the last couple years,’’ said North coach Beth Serughetti. “She is extremely focused and she knows how to lead a defense.’’

Besides reaching a lofty milestone this has been a very special season for Alexa because her sister, Victoria, is a freshman contributing to the Knights success.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever played together,’’ said Alexa. “I now see her in a different light, instead of being that annoying little sister. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to play with her. It’s one of the best feelings.’’

The last two years the feeling around the Knights has been pretty good too thanks for Alexa’s play in the cage.

More Milestones The same game that L’Insalata reached the 300 save mark North’s Olivia Harpel recorded her 200th career goal. One of the most talented players around and just a junior Harpel might not have reached her last milestone.

“There is no one I’d rather share a milestone with than Olivia,’’ said L’Insalata. “I have so much admiration for her. Because her got her 200th it made it an even better night.’’

Hamilton’s Erin Septer notched her 100th career goal in a game and in the process became the first in school history to accomplish the feat.

But, Septer remembered the Hornet players like Ally McCormick and Megan Schneck, who laid the groundwork for the ever-improving Hamilton program.

Douglass is one of the quickest players in the county and she possesses one of the most lethal shots in the county. There have been a pair of division titles the last couple years for the Rams and Douglass played a large role in that success.

Spartans Get on Winning TrackDespite some losses the Spartans has always played hard and played to the end of the game.

They got a reward for the hard work with a win over Nottingham this week.

“I have been very happy to see the positives that has come from the losses,’’ said Steinert coach Lorraine Heisler. “The team’s effort and resiliency in those situations makes each and every game exciting. But, it was very nice to come away with a win.’’

The Spartans got six goals from Mani Kissling in the win, Gabby Stinger did a great job finding the open player and Steph Miranda excelled on the defense.

Free Position Shots•Kate Weeks has recorded a pair of 12 goal games for Hun. The Boston College-bound Weeks scored a dozen against Peddie and followed it up with another 12 against Mercersburg.

•The Alex Moore watch has the Allentown senior just nine goals away from becoming New Jersey’s all-time leading scorer. She has 357 and the mark is 365 set in 2006 my Brie Moran at Red Bank Regional.

•Nottingham’s Olivia Wyszynski has been very impressive on the attack. Wyszynski had six in the Northstars game with Pennington.

•Emilia Lopez-Ona has 19 goals in the last three Princeton games. The Tigers also got a great 20 save performance from Mira Shane against ND.